Crib



Dec. 15, 1941. EB. KRATKY 2,266,370

CRIB

\ y Filed. Jan. ll, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 16, 1941 cnrs l Y "Y irradia'. matky, Lemay, Mo.

Application January 11, 194i, serial No. 374,041 a 4I claims. 01. 5-v-1ooj` l This invention relatesl generally `to improves ments in cribs, and particularlyto improvements in cribs or baby beds equipped with the-popu1ar drop side feature. a Y

lBroadlyconsidered, in addition to providing f that feature by a novel arrangement, my invention provides other advantages not found in conventional structures.

According to my invention, the crib is made in two separable sctions or assemblies, each of them serving an independent purpose, and'when associated, serving still another purpose.l v The principal feature of the rinvention therefore, is the arrangement which selectively provides a crib or bed for babies, a play pen or enclosure readily removable therefrom, and a remaining structure suitable, per se, as a bed for children of more mature age. v The invention also includes novel means-for selectively maintaining the drop side in Yan elevated, or in a lowered position, and means where-- by any tendency of the parts to bindfduring such manipulation is eliminated. v Y f Other features and objects will be apparentor pointed out in the following description, and in the drawings, which form a part f this specification. y' Y Similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout the various views of saidv drawings,in which- Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the crib', the drop side thereof being in elevated position; Fig. 2 is a similar fragmentary view thereof, with the drop side lowered;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view line 3--3 in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of the play pen section resting on Va plane surface; 'f v Fig. 5 is a similar view of the bed section; Y Fig. 6 is an venlarged horizontal 'section taken on the line 6 6 in Fig. 1; f Figs. 7 and 8 are vertical sectional views taken on the lines 1 1 and 8-8 respectively, in Fig. 1; Fig. 9 is an edge view of the play pen section in folded position, a pair of removable guide rods not being included;

Fig. 10 illustrates another of numerous plug and socket contours contemplated, the View being similar to Fig. '1; v

Fig. 11 shows a removable cap or ornament which may be placed in the corner post sockets when the bed section is used independently of the play pen section. Y

The crib, generally indicated A, includes an upper section, or play pen assembly B, and a taken on the lower section, or bed assembly C. Conventional casters are provided for the four corner posts I2 of said lower Asection C. VFormed inthe upper end of each postI 2, is asocket or recess I3, which 1- may be squareas shown particularlyk in Fig. '7,

orfround as shown in Fig. 10, or of other configuration.V f .Y a

A conventional angle iron frame I4, adapted to support the usual wire fabric spring, (not shown), has lits-four corners'connected to the posts I2 by pairs off angle plates I5, each having one leg Welded or otherwise secured to the frame I4, and another weldedror otherwise secured to a post I2, as best shown in Fig. 6. By this arrangement, the frame and-cornerpostsform a rigid framework or substructure, mobile as a unit. An angle strip I'I preferably is welded to the inner faces of adjacent plates I5, to further reinforce the corner constructions, which thus far described, are common to each of the four corner posts.

The two forward posts as viewed in Figs. 1', 2, and 5, that is the posts I2 adjacent the drop side, are further provided with means for guidingthe drop Vside during the loweringthereof and for supporting it in its lowered position.

Permanently secured, as by, welding or other-A Wise at a predetermined `point on each of vsaid forward posts, is an angular bracket member- I8. Supported thereby, and secured thereto, is a cylindrical rod I9, extending vertically upwardly to a point near the top of section C, where it is rounded as at 20, and welded or otherwise secured to a plate I5, as indicated at 2|. An annular ele' ment 22 of rubber or the like, may surround the rod and rest upon `the horizontalfcomponent of bracketI8, for a purpose to be described. I

Means to maintain the drop side in an elevated position when desired, are provided intermediate the front posts I 2, including a supporting member or plate 23, pivotally mounted as at 24 on the front rail I4 of frame I4, adjacent the drop side. An integral depending finger-piece 25 facilitates manipulation of the plate 23 about its pivot. The

operative position of the device is illustrated particularly in Figs. 1 and 8. In the inoperative vposition (Fig. 5), the plate is swung-inwardly The side 28 opposite the drop side 29, includes top and bottom rails 30, permanently xed at their ends to the rear corner posts 26. The end members 3| each include top and bottom rails 32. Instead of being permanently mounted however, said ends have a hinged connection as indicated at 33 with the rigid rear side 28. By this arrangement, said side and ends may be folded, as illustrated in Fig. 9.

The drop side 29y includes a top rail 34 and a bottom rail 35. As shown in the drawings, a vertical aperture 36 is provided in the rail 34 near each end thereof, such aperture being of slightly larger diameter than that of a vertical guide rod 31, which passes therethrough and through an alined aperture 38, formed near each end of the rail 35.

The guide rods 31 have heads 3'1" whereby they are supported at their upper ends in bracllets` 3S secured to the forward corner posts 26.r Other bracketsl, secured tosaid posts, serve to. maintain the rodsv in a stable, position. As, shown particularly in Fig. 1, the brackets 391 and 40a have openings. in their; horizontal components in aline-v ment with apertures 3,6 and 3.8. Tov facilitate entry of the lower extremity of the guide rods 31 into the apertures 38, when raisingfthedrop side, said apertures are enlarged at their upper ends, as indicated at. 4I, (Fig, 2)..

Thev guide. rods. 31 are readily' removable when it. is. desired to fold the, penas in Fig. 9. If de.- sired, a few threads may be formed'on each: rod immediately below the. head 31', to engage internal threads inv the holes, of each bracket 3.9, obviating withdrawal ofthe rod` by a child while the. crib is in use'.

For cooperation with vthe guide rodsv ISjoi the lower section C; the bottom rail 3,5., of the; drop. side has a more orV less semicircular groove,v 4.2- formed in eachv of its ends, asA best A show-n in Fig. l, 2, and 6.

The drawings illustrate, and ther description thus far refers to a metal construction. Qbviously many of the parts may be. made oiwood, in which event screws. or similarfasterring means would be. employed instead of Welding.- Als,0 the plugsy couldbe formedon the. lower structure, with the socketsfon the upper.

The features of. the invention v,should nowv be apparent, but a brief. resumel of the-Infollowsf.

With the upper section mountedon the lower, a sturdy, safe, mobilecriby for babies isprovided. In lowering the drop side,r smooth Aoperation is insured by the rounded portions 2.0,. of, the guide rods L9.- entering into, cooperation with the grooves 4.2., which embrace sa-drods beforefwthe apertures 38 of raill 3.5. leave the lower extremities of rods 31.- By thisY arrangement, tendencyI of the partsv tov bind is minimized. The bumper members '2` eliminate noise..

When section B is. set up asia. play pen, it is noted that the lower extremity of. each rod31 ends slightly above that of eachv plug extension 21, and that the drop side is therefore self-supporting.

As illustrated in Fig. 5, substructure C, per se, provides a suitable bed' for a child beyond the play pen age. When so used, an ornamental, cap or the like B3, provided with a plug, portion'dl similar to plug 21, may be inserted in each 590ket i3, as shown in Fig.l 11. Y

Obviously, various changescou-ldbe, made in the, constructiony without. departing, from the spirit of the invention, and-I dotnet desire to be limited to the precise details shown and described.

I claim:

1. A crib assemblage including a lower or base structure and an upper or play pen structure removably supported thereon, the play pen structure including spaced corner posts, a pair of ends, and a pair of sides, one of the latter being a drop side having an upper and a lower rail, apertures in, each of Saidv rails adapted to engage separate guide means mounted on two of said corner posts adjacent the drop side, and the base structure including a frame and similarly spaced corner posts, two oi the latter adjacent said drop side having separate means thereon adapted to be engaged by grooves formed in the extremities of the lower rail of the drop side; to-guide the same while being lowered or elevated, means also von said last-named two posts adapted to support the drop side in its lowered position, and means ontheframe portion of the base structure adapted tosupport. the drop side in,its5e1evated position. K

2. In a crib assemblage having arlowerfor b'ase structure, and an upperv or play Vpenstructure removably mounted thereon, one side of said upper orplay pen structure ccnstituting--a drop side construction including a vertically slidable framework.' having a topanda bottom. rail lin spaced relation, alined apertures formed inl said rails near each end thereof,` a vertical guide rod passing through each` alined pair oi apertures, means on, the.upper structure for supporting andl maintaining saidvrodsf in position, and a vertical groove `formed in each extremity of the. bottom rail for` cooperation with a second pair of vertical guide rods mounted ron and supported by-said lower structure. y, l

3. A vcrib assembly hav-ing cooperatively a substructure and a superstructure, thev substructure including fou-r corner posts and side and end rails secured tothe posts and adapted to support a bed bottom, the superstructure including, four corner posts and a pair of. side walls and a pair of ends hinged to one ot said sides in sucha manner as to form when extended a rectangular pen, with the four corner posts spaced correspondingly withl the posts on the substructure, telescoping means on the upper ends of the posts of the substructure and on the lower Vends. ofthe superstructure, arranged and adapted whereby the-superstructure as. a whole may be attached to andz detached from the substructure -at wil-l, a

pair of vertical guide brackets mounted on two corner posts of the substructure, and a pairjof vertical guide rods mounted ontwocorresponding corner postsof the superstructure,Y apertures formed in the upperand lower-rrailst-of one side wall of the superstruotureior engaging said vertical ,guidey rods, andgrooves frorrnedwin the extremities of the lower rail oisaidside wallfor engaging the guide brackets on the substructure. l LAA cribassemblyhaving coopera-tively a substructure anda superstructurethe substructure including4 four corner posts and side and end rails secured to the posts and adapted to support a` bed bottom, the superstructure'including four cornerfposts, apair of sides and afpair of ends secured to the last named' postsV in such manner assto form avrectangular pen with the corner` posts spaced, correspondingly with the posts-onthe substructure, one of said sides being adapted for dropping, and having spaced top and bottom rails, telescopingrmeans on Vthe up-l per` endsfof the-posts Lof the substructureA and lthe of the substructure engaging in grooves on the ends of said bottom rail when said drop side is lowered, the brackets being positioned to engage said grooves while the bottom rail is still en- 5 gaging said rods.

FRED B. KRATKY. 

